HC rejects mosque committee’s petition

The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected a plea by Noor Charitable Society, that managed the mosque demolished in Jangpura, to waive the order restricting the entry of namazis to the cordoned-off area on Fridays.

The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected a plea by Noor Charitable Society, that managed the mosque demolished in Jangpura, to waive the order restricting the entry of namazis to the cordoned-off area on Fridays.

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The court had, on January 17, allowed the entry of only 10 persons per day for a period of two months till the dispute was resolved amicably.

"The land does not belong to you. I have ordered a status quo for a period of two months, to facilitate the resolution of the issue. The prayer, seeking waiver on the number of 'namazis' cannot be allowed at this stage," Justice GS Sistani said.

"The society is facing a problem, as there will be a large number of 'namazis' on Fridays", the Noor Charitable Society told the court.

The court also rejected the plea that an Imam and two devotees be allowed to remain present at the site to guard the "religious and other materials of the mosque".

"Police is already there to protect them. This cannot be allowed," the court said.

Meanwhile, the Residents Welfare Association of Jangpura claimed that more than 100 namazis offered prayer on Friday, by barging into the cordoned off area and said "it was a clear violation of the court order."

On January 12, communal violence had broken out in the Jangpura area of south Delhi after a Delhi Development Authority team went there to demolish a mosque built on ‘government land’, on the directions of the Delhi High Court.

Police resorted to lathicharge to dispel mobs at the spot.